Outboard propeller mechanism for boats, barges, and the like



Jan. 2, 1951 w, w z 2,536,894

- OUTBOARD PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR BOATS, BARGES AND THE LIKE Filed DEC. 23, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l Invasion- AfZfiUr M/cmzgr t Jan. 2, 1951 A. w. wANzER 2,536,894

OUTBOARD PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR BOATS, BARGES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 25, 1948 Arr/W W w f H m M 4M Izwezaiofl Jan. 2, 1951 w, WANZER 2,536,894

OUTBOARD PROP ELLER MECHANISM FOR BOATS, BARGES AND THE LIKE Filed D80. 23, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 OUTBOARD PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR BOATS, BARGES, AND THE LIKE Arthur W. Wanzer, Quincy, Mass, assignor to Murray 8; Tregurtha, Inc., Quincy, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 23, 1948, Serial No. 66,976

2 Claims. (01. 115-35) This invention relates to outboard propeller mechanism for boats, barges and other sea-going craft and especially to the type of outboard propeller mechanism in which the propeller and its supporting means are mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis for raising the propeller, and in which the propeller is capable of bodily turning movement about a vertical axis for steering the boat. An outboard propeller mechanism of this type is illustrated in the Mathewson, U. S. Patent No. 2,335,597, November 23, 1943, and also in my U. S. Patent No. 2,458,813, January 11, 1949. and U. S. Patent No. 2,499,339, February 28, 1950,

In the devices shown in said patent and applications the propeller is driven from a vertical drive shaft which is operatively connected to the power shaft by bevel transmission gears, and the steering mechanism includes a steering wheel and connections from the latter by which the propeller is given its bodily turning movement about the vertical axis. Furthermore in the devices shown in said patent and applications, the construction is one which permits the propeller and its vertical drive shaft to be swung about a horizontal axis into raised position for clearing obstructions in the water or for lifting it entirely free from the water, without disrupting either the operative connections for drivin the propeller or the operative connections by which the propeller is turned about its vertical axis for steering the boat. f

To provide for this the gear transmission between the power shaft and the verticaldrive shaft includes bevel gears which are co-axial with A drive shaft, but which-ls so constructed as to permit the propeller to be raised and lowered, and also to be turned about the vertical axis for steering the boat while maintaining intact and operative the driving connections between the power shaft and the-propeller and also the steering mechanism-by which the propeller is given its bodily turning movement about a vertical axi In order to givean understanding of the insingle pair of 'intermeshing bevel gears, one on "the power shaft and the other on the vertical 2 vention, I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof, which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an outboard pro peller mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig.2 is a side view thereof showing a portion of the barge or other vessel onwhich the mechanism is mounted. 1 Fig. 3 is a rear view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view with parts broken out showing the upper gear housing member and the manner in which it is pivotally mounted for swinging movement. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the pivoted bearings for the gear housing member.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the other pivoted bearing for the gear housin member. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88, Fig. 1. In the drawings l indicates the stern of a barge, boat, or other sea-going vessel on which my improved outboard propeller'mechanism is mounted and 2 indicates a motor, which may conveniently be of the internal combustion type, for operating the propeller mechanism, said motor having the horizontally extending power shaft 3 for delivering power to the propeller mechanism.

The mechanism. herein shown comprises an upper housing member 4, which is in the nature of a gear housing, and from which depends a lower housing 5 that supports the propeller 6. Said propeller is, as usual, mounted on a horizontal propeller shaft 1 carried at the lower end of the housing member 5, said propeller shaft being connected by bevel gears 8 with a vertical drive shaft 9 which extends through the housing 5 and intothe gear housing l, said drive shaft 9 being connected tothe power shaft 3 through a single pair of bevel gears It, II which meshwith each other, the gear It being mounted on the upper end of the drive shaft 9 and the gear H on the end of the power shaft 3. v The upper end l2 of the lower housing 5, which may conveniently be called a propellei supportf ing housing because it supports a propeller 6', extends into and is mounted for turning movement within the lower portion of the gear housing 4, said propeller supporting housing 5 being mounted in suitable roller bearings 13.

Said upper end I2 of the housing has fast thereon a worm gear 14 which meshes with and is driven by a worm I5 carried by a transverse swing about a, horizontal axis for raising the propeller without disrupting either the driving connections between the power shaft 3 and the drive. shaft 9 or the operative connections between the steering wheel I! and the worm l5 and its-wormgear I4.

The upper gear housing 4 is provided with two extensions l8, l9 which are pivotally connected to a supporting frame 23 that is mounted. onthe deck of the vessel to providefor swinging the gear housing 4 about a horizontal axis. The extension 13 carries at its free end a trunnion 21 which is journaled in a bearing 22 carried; by the supporting frame 23, andthe other extension l8 carries at; its free end another trunnion 23 which is journaled in a bearing 24 carried by the supporting frame 23. The trunnions areco-axial and constitute a horizontal axis about which the: gear housing 4 and the propeller-supporting: housing, 5 may: be swung as a unit, said axis being located above the axial lineof the power shaft 3 as best seenin. Figsr 2 and 4)- In order to provide for such swinging move mentof the housings 4 and5 as-aunit from their operative position shown in full lines Figs. 2- and 4 into a raised position indicated by dotted lines and without disconnecting the bevel gears l0 and H- L propose to provide the power shaft3' with ai plurality of sections pivotally connected together and tomake one oftheiextensions extensible and oorrtractible. formed with the twoend. sections 25, 2 6 which are connected by a universal joint 21. The section 255 is also connected to the main power shaft section by means of. another universal joint 28;

The shaft section journal'ed in bearing in i gear housing 4,. and the bevel gear [la is mounted thereon The shaft section 25 is made extensible and cpntractible; One endv of said shaft section is Accordingly said power shaft is 1 slidably mounted the hub. portion 29 of the universal joint 21' andzis splined thereto,

The flexibility of thepower shaft resulting from the; use of the universal joints therein as well as the; extensibility of the shaft section 25 enables the housing members 4 and 5 to be swung as a about the horizontal axis of the trunnions 21;, 23- wh-ile the gears Hi and it remain in mesh with each other, and thus the raising of the propeller can be. accomplished without disrupting irr any way the driving connections between the power shaft 3 and the propeller 6.

The steering connections between the steering wheel I! and the worm shaft i6 comprisea vertical shaft 30 on which the steering wheel I! is mounted and which is connected by bevel gears 31 to a horizontal. shaft 32 which in turn is con,- nected by bevel gears 33 with ashaft 34 that is iournaledin the supporting frame20. Said shaft 314; extendsdiagonally and at its upper end is connected by a universal joint 35 with a horizontally extending shaft section 36 that is coaxial with the trunnion 23 and is mounted for rotative movement therein. The shaft section 36 has rigid therewith a sprocket wheel 3! which is connected by a sprocket chain 38 with a sprocket wheel 39 on the worm shaft Hi.

The operative connections between the steering wheel H and the shaft l6 thusi includes a rotary transmission element 36 which is co-axial with the horizontal axis about which the housing members. 4 and 5 swing when the propeller is being raised and lowered, and because of this co-axial relation, the swinging of the housing members 4 and 5 about their horizontal axis will not disrupt or efiectin any way the operativeness of the driving connections between the steering wheel I? and the Worm shaft 16.

I claim:

I. An outboard propeller for boats and the like comprising a supporting frame adapted to be mounted on the deck of a: boat; a gear housing member having two spaced upwardly and inwardl'y directed extensions, means pivotally connecting saide'xtensions to' the supporting frame for swinging movement of the gear: housing about a horizontal axis, a propeller=carryin housing depending fromthe gear housing, a propeller carriedby the propeller-carrying housing, the latter being! turnable relative to the gear housing about a vertical axis to steer the boat, means for operating the propeller including a horizontally extending power shaft hav ing' one end journalled inthe' gear housing and located below said horizontal axis, a vertical drive shaft enclosed in the propeller-carrying housing, gears connecting said power shaft and vertical drive shaft, steering means for turning the propeller-carrying housing about its vertical axis, said steering means including a rotary transmission element coaxial with said herizontal axis and mounted on one of the extensions of the gear housing, a shaft journalled on said supporting, frame below the power shaft and extending parallel thereto, a transversely extending upwardly inclined shaft connected by bevelled gears at its lower end' to the longitudinally extending shaft, a universal joint connection between the upper end of said iri clined shaft and the rotary transmission element, a shaft carried bytheigear housing, gears connecting said latter shaft to the propellercarrying housing, and a sprocket chain connecting said rotary transmission element to said last-named shaft, the portion of said power shaft adjacent the gear housing being; made in sections connected by universal joints.

2. An outboard propeller mechanism for boats comprising a supportin frame adapted to. be

t mounted on the deckofa boat and having" two spaced uprightv portions,- a gear housing memberi having, two upwardly and inwardly directed extensions, each of whichv has a. trunnion element journalled' in one of the upright portions of the supporting frame and one at least of said extensions beinghollow, said trunnions being aligned horizontally, a propeller-carrying housing depending. from the gear housing, a propeller carried by the propeller-carrying housing, the latter being. turnable relative to the-gear housing about a vertical axis-to steer the boat, means for operatingthe propeller including a horizontally extending power shaf-t located be low the horizontal axis of the trunnions and having one endjournalledinthe gear housing, a

end to the longitudinally extending shaft, a universal joint connection between said upwardly inclined shaft and the rotary transmission element, a shaft carried by the gear housing, gearing connecting said latter shaft to the propellercarrying housing, a sprocket chain connecting said rotary transmissionelement and said lastnamed shaft, said sprocket chain bein enclosed in the corresponding hollow gear housing extension, the portion of the power shaft adjacent the gear housing being made in section connected by universal joints.

ARTHUR W. WANZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,034,987 Ducassou Aug. 6, 1912 2,091,247 Williams Aug, 24, 1937 2,114,633 Hedges Apr. 19, 1938 2,458,813 Wanzer Jan. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 364,207 Great Britain Jan. 7, 1932 

